By Uher H.R. No. 344 77R6797 MMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of J. Donald Bowen of Abilene and 1-2 Houston on March 3, 2000, has brought a sense of profound loss to 1-3 the family and many friends of this exceptional man; and 1-4 WHEREAS, A nationally known plaintiffs' attorney, Don Bowen 1-5 was born in San Angelo on September 20, 1944; although he 1-6 subsequently did most of his work in Houston, he maintained his 1-7 home in Abilene, where he was raised; for many years he was a 1-8 valued member of Abilene's Highland Church of Christ; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Mr. Bowen received a bachelor's degree from Abilene 1-10 Christian University in 1967 and a J.D., cum laude, from The 1-11 University of Texas School of Law in 1970; while a law student he 1-12 was inducted into Phi Delta Phi, an international legal fraternity, 1-13 and the Order of the Coif, a prestigious honorary society; his 1-14 diligence and academic achievements also earned him the position 1-15 of case note editor on the Texas Law Review; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Following graduation, Mr. Bowen worked in the trial 1-17 section of Baker and Botts in Houston for three years before 1-18 joining the firm that became Helm, Pletcher, Bowen and Saunders; he 1-19 served as managing partner of the latter firm from 1984 onward; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Mr. Bowen steadily gained recognition as one of the 1-21 most successful civil trial attorneys in the country; he 1-22 represented clients in a number of high-stakes cases, including a 1-23 suit by Exxon against its insurers after the Exxon Valdez oil 1-24 spill; in that litigation Mr. Bowen, as lead counsel, won a 2-1 substantial verdict in behalf of the oil company, which was seeking 2-2 compensation for massive clean-up costs; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Mr. Bowen brilliantly and steadfastly represented 2-4 working people throughout the United States, handling some 450 2-5 claims a year as longtime designated counsel for the United 2-6 Transportation Union; more recently, he was instrumental in pulling 2-7 together trial lawyers from all over the country to litigate in 2-8 behalf of many thousands of Americans injured by the diet drug 2-9 Fen-Phen; shortly before his passing Mr. Bowen went to court in a 2-10 Texas suit related to this drug and won a substantial settlement 2-11 for his client; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Mr. Bowen was certified by the Texas Board of Legal 2-13 Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law and by the National 2-14 Board of Trial Advocacy as a Civil Trial Advocate; he was admitted 2-15 to the Texas Bar in 1970 and was also admitted to practice in the 2-16 United States district courts for the Southern, Western, Northern, 2-17 and Eastern districts of Texas; and 2-18 WHEREAS, Among the numerous professional groups to which he 2-19 belonged were The College of the State Bar of Texas, Texas Bar 2-20 Foundation, American Board of Trial Advocates, and Academy of Rail 2-21 Labor Attorneys; and 2-22 WHEREAS, This distinguished Texan served as president of the 2-23 Texas Trial Lawyers Association and as a member of the Pepperdine 2-24 University School of Law Board of Visitors; he was a Fellow of the 2-25 American College of Trial Lawyers, and his name was repeatedly 2-26 listed in The Best Lawyers in America; and 2-27 WHEREAS, Mr. Bowen relished challenges outside of the 3-1 courtroom as well as within: a former college football lineman in 3-2 spite of his relatively light weight, he found rejuvenation in 3-3 running marathons and competed in the Boston Marathon on several 3-4 occasions; for relaxation he also loved retreating to the quiet 3-5 simplicity of his ranch in Coke County; and 3-6 WHEREAS, The integrity, courage, and loyalty that Don Bowen 3-7 displayed throughout his life, together with his erudition, 3-8 virtuoso legal skills, and unequivocal commitment to his clients, 3-9 gained for him the enormous respect and affection of his family, 3-10 friends, and associates, and the spirit of this good man will 3-11 surely live on in the hearts of all he so deeply touched; now, 3-12 therefore, be it 3-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 3-14 Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the life of J. Donald 3-15 "Don" Bowen and extend sincere sympathy to his family: to his 3-16 wife, Latimer Bowen; to his daughter and son-in-law, Ashley Bowen 3-17 Mayo and Todd Mayo; to his sons, Watson Bowen and Shane Bowen; to 3-18 his mother, Jo Bowen; to his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew, 3-19 Donna Bowen, Steve Stiles, and Michael Hughes; and to the many 3-20 others who held him dear; and, be it further 3-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-22 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 3-23 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 3-24 J. Donald Bowen.